Prevalence of undernourishment in Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Democratic People's Republic of Korea: Prevalence of undernourishment was 47.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
47.0%
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
3rd
of 138 countries
All-time high
47.5%
in 2017
All-time low
32.9%
in 2003
Years of data
18
2001–2018

Prevalence of undernourishment in Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 2001–2018

010203040502001200920182001: 35.9 %2002: 35.2 %2003: 32.9 %2004: 33.2 %2005: 34.5 %2006: 37 %2007: 39.1 %2008: 40.5 %2009: 42 %2010: 42.9 %2011: 43.4 %2012: 43.7 %2013: 43.7 %2014: 44.5 %2015: 45.2 %2016: 46 %2017: 47.5 %2018: 47 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of undernourishment in Democratic People's Republic of Korea is 47.0%, measured in 2018.

The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 16.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of undernourishment in Democratic People's Republic of Korea peaked at 47.5% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 32.9%, in 2003.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea ranks 3rd of 138 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.

Prevalence of undernourishment in Democratic People's Republic of Korea, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of undernourishment (%) in Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 2001 to 2018.
Year % Change
2001 35.9%
2002 35.2% -1.9%
2003 32.9% -6.5%
2004 33.2% +0.9%
2005 34.5% +3.9%
2006 37.0% +7.2%
2007 39.1% +5.7%
2008 40.5% +3.6%
2009 42.0% +3.7%
2010 42.9% +2.1%
2011 43.4% +1.2%
2012 43.7% +0.7%
2013 43.7% +0.0%
2014 44.5% +1.8%
2015 45.2% +1.6%
2016 46.0% +1.8%
2017 47.5% +3.3%
2018 47.0% -1.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 36.7% 32.9% 42.0% 9
2010s 44.9% 42.9% 47.5% 9

Countries ranked near Democratic People's Republic of Korea

  1. 1 Somalia 56.5% compare
  2. 2 Haiti 51.4% compare
  3. 4 Madagascar 41.8% compare
  4. 5 Zambia 41.0% compare
  5. 6 Syrian Arab Republic 40.8% compare

See the full ranking of 168 places →

More development goals data for Democratic People's Republic of Korea

All data for Democratic People's Republic of Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of undernourishment in Democratic People's Republic of Korea?
Prevalence of undernourishment in Democratic People's Republic of Korea was 47.0% in 2018, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Democratic People's Republic of Korea?
The highest recorded value was 47.5% in 2017.
What is the lowest prevalence of undernourishment recorded in Democratic People's Republic of Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 32.9% in 2003.
How does Democratic People's Republic of Korea rank for prevalence of undernourishment?
Democratic People's Republic of Korea ranks 3rd out of 138 countries with data for 2018.
Is prevalence of undernourishment rising or falling in Democratic People's Republic of Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Democratic People's Republic of Korea data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Prevalence of undernourishment (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of undernourishment in Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://development-goals.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-undernourishment-percent/democratic-people-s-republic-of-korea/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of undernourishment (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
168 places, 3,686 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed